[Danny45]

DQ,
First the sight problem (easiest to talk about). You need a "drift tool" to move either sight. They are pressed in their dovetails and won't freely move even with the set screw loosened. It's kind of like a steering wheel puller, in reverse.

Now, what type of ammo are you using? From your comment "...edge of the flat nose", I assume you're using semi-wadcutters. While most pistols will shoot these just fine, I've seen numerous 1911's that would not. Everything is so confined it just doesn't have room to manuever as it's going from magazine to chamber. What about ball ammo or hollowpoints? Does it do the same with them? If not, you probably don't have a problem, just the ammo won't work in it. If they also do this, you could have a magazine problem. How old are the mags? Have you tried new ones, or different makes? I've replaced all my Kimber (Chip McCormick) mags with Wilsons and couldn't be happier. All my FTF's stopped when I did that.

Hope this helps.

------------------
God Bless America!!

Danny
NRA, NAHC, Buckmasters

 

[Don Quixote]

Originally posted by Danny45:
DQ,
>First the sight problem (easiest to talk >about). You need a "drift tool" to move >either sight. They are pressed in their >dovetails and won't freely move even with >the set screw loosened. It's kind of like a >steering wheel puller, in reverse.

You know, I've been looking for the sight drifter you mention, but haven't come across them. Need it for my rifles also. I have been using a padded brass drift tool, with the slide in a padded vise. Those things are really in there.

Any idea where I might look?

>Now, what type of ammo are you using? From >your comment "...edge of the flat nose", I >assume you're using semi-wadcutters. While >most pistols will shoot these just fine, >I've seen numerous 1911's that would not. >Everything is so confined it just doesn't >have room to manuever as it's going from >magazine to chamber. What about ball ammo >or hollowpoints? Does it do the same with >them? If not, you probably don't have a >problem, just the ammo won't work in it. If >they also do this, you could have a >magazine problem. How old are the mags? >Have you tried new ones, or different >makes? I've replaced all my Kimber (Chip >McCormick) mags with Wilsons and couldn't >be happier. All my FTF's stopped when I did >that.

I've tried various ammo. This is a .40 S&W, so the hardball ammo I have found is all a FMJ truncated cone. I haven't been able to find any commercial FMJ round-nose in .40 S&W, and was told in a different thread that it didn't exist. The only ammo I have not had a problem with is the Winchester jacketed hollow points (SXT), but that may be only because I haven't put enough of that through yet.

The three mags I have are all Kimber stock, and are about three months old. As I mentioned, both FTF have been the last round out of the mag, and has caught the flat of the bullet on the upper, outer edge of the chamber. I have been looking for mags by other makers, but haven't found anything in the 7-round .40 S&W to fit my Ultra Carry. Anybody know where to look?

Thanks for the input.

DQ

 

[Danny45]

DQ,
Damn, I'd forgot about 40's having that Truncated Cone. They are almost as bad as Semi-Wadcutters. I don't know what to tell you on that. I'd be afraid of modifying the top of the barrel/chamber to let those feed better. You may be stuck shooting nothing but hollowpoints thru it. Or lead! If you do, make sure the lead bullets are HARD!! The softer lead bullets are a b***h to clean out!!
There are several shooter supply houses that should have that sight drifting tool. But I'll be darned if I can remember their names!! Precision Shooting? Dillon? Contact a local gunsmith, he should be able to get you one. You might check Wilson Combat for the magazines. They work in my .45 but I don't know if they make those for .40 or not.

If all else fails, send the whole package back to Kimber explaining the problem. They'll either fix the gun, or change out the magazines.

Good luck to ya!

------------------
God Bless America!!

Danny
NRA, NAHC, Buckmasters

[This message has been edited by Danny45 (edited 11-27-2001).]

 

[MarkCO]

Don, have you tried some Blazer 180s? They are as close to ball as one gets in the .40 caliber.

 

[eljay45]

I have always heard the sights are hard to move.I shoot with a guy who had the same problem,his smith couldn't budge the sights. He sent it to Kimber, told them how far off it was , and they adjusted them and had them back to him in 4days.The gun shoots POA now

 

[Don Quixote]

Thanks for all the great feedback.

DQ